Candidate Profile: Kate Borninski For Canton Township Trustee

Kate Borninski, a Canton Township resident is running for Canton Township Trustee.

Age: 53
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Tom (husband), Ned (26), Rowan (23), Nicholas (19)
Occupation:Homemaker, former teacher
Previous elected experience:Trustee, Board of Education, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Family members in government:No.
Campaign website: https://kateforcanton.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
COVID-19 continues to be the pressing issue for our state as well as for Canton Township. I support the current Board’s approach, which has been to emphasize safety as the highest priority. As the pandemic continues to evolve, we will evaluate opening or closing services as appropriate . It is important to continue essential services and above all be responsive to residents’ needs. When there is a vaccine available, local vaccination clinics should be arranged for those who wish to be vaccinated. I believe that a true recovery can never occur unless people in our Township feel safe.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
We need experienced leaders, especially now. I believe that my unique combination of experiences will serve the Canton Board of Trustees well. I’ve served on the P-CCS Board of Education since January 1, 2015, and have held the positions of Secretary (2015-16), Vice President (2016-17), and President (2017-19), as well as having served on the Policy, SPA (Student Performance and Achievement) and CLP (Communications, Legislation and Partnerships) subcommittees. Additionally, I served on the boards of the Educational Excellence Foundation (2015-2019) and PFLAG Plymouth-Canton (2013-2016) and graduated from Leadership Canton in 2018. I’ve also lived overseas, more than once, namely in Japan (1997-2000) and France (2003-2005). These experiences gave me perspective on how other cultures and societies tackle challenges.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Every year I have been on the school board, we have achieved balanced budgets and managed to grow the fund balance. For reference, the P-CCS budget is $170 million (larger than the township budget) and there are over 1000 employees. In addition, I achieved Level 2 certification as a school board member from the Michigan Association of School Boards which means that I did extensive hours and days of training. This is not required, but I thought it was important. I’m looking forward to achieving the same levels of certification and training from the Michigan Municipal League or Michigan Townships Association. While I was school board president, the Safety & Security Package was approved which provides important updates to all of the schools in the district. The Business Academy was also approved as well. I am also proud that I was part of the school board when we hired Monica Merritt as Superintendent as she brought long-needed stability to the district. In the fall of 2019, Township Trustees Anne-Marie Graham Hudak, Sommer Foster and I met with some officials from Canton Public Safety. Out of that meeting, the Canton Public Safety Department’s Youth Diversion Program became a reality. I am very proud to have been a small part of beginning that very important program. I am also proud that I spoke before the township board in 2014 in support of the Human Rights Ordinance that was eventually passed.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
While the township board is not part of state government, I think the Board should advocate for relief coming from the county, state or federal government to help our local Canton businesses affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. The Board should also work diligently to find grants and partnerships to fill any gaps. Tackling urgent infrastructure needs will also help the local economy. While doing so we must continue essential services and above all be responsive to residents’ needs. The Board has a history of helping businesses in Canton by implementing tax cuts to attract new businesses or for expanding existing ones, and this should be continued, but the Board needs to hold the businesses accountable and follow up to ensure the promised number of jobs materialize.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
This is a big concern and I watched the current board discuss some of these issues at a recent board meeting where they received data from the Public Safety Department. We need to understand patterns of profiling and inequities of services in the community. The township board needs to make sure that Canton's ordinances on discrimination are up to date. I would be in favor of instituting an independent citizen's review board made up of a diverse group of Canton citizens whose task would be to oversee the police department, as the State of Michigan has recently instituted a similar review board for the State Police. Training could possibly help but the lack of standards may render this training ineffective. I would be in favor of the township board working to regulate the use of force and making de-escalation a goal. In addition, I would like to see our public safety department hire professionals such as social workers who could go on calls and help to de-escalate situations. This would actually increase funding to public safety. I also think the board should advocate for more state-wide legislation on this. Hiring practices should reflect the makeup of the community. The Township’s Coalition for Inclusive Communities has done important work on this and I support continuing that work.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
1. Ensuring that any new growth in Canton is done in a smarter, more responsible manner to reduce congestion, increase walkability, and add more parks and green spaces for residents to enjoy.
2. Canton should be a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community where every resident feels welcome no matter your race, religion, ethnic background, gender identity, or sexual orientation. I am committed to continue increasing the diversity on our appointed boards and commissions.
3. Making Canton Township a leader in renewable and sustainable technology. Increase investments in green-energy technology, including developing a smarter traffic grid to improve traffic flow and decrease congestion on Canton roads.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Canton is wonderfully diverse. We should welcome that and ensure that the townships’ commissions reflect the demographics of the community. The township board must ensure that non-discrimination policies are implemented fully and that services are distributed equitably. Everyone should have a voice in the township’s future.